Nearly 30 years after a golden retriever proved there was apparently no rule against dogs playing basketball, Air Bud returned to the big screen this month.
This time, the audience included actual dogs.
Special dog-friendly screenings of the original 1997 movie popped up in Los Angeles, Chicago and Kansas City in early August, inviting people to bring their pups along for the full Air Bud experience.
And these weren’t exactly sit quietly and don’t spill the popcorn screenings.
Dogs showed up dressed for the occasion, some in bandanas, some in full outfits, and some even matching their humans. There were hot dogs, popcorn, candy and drinks for the people, while the canine guests got Pedigree samples and dedicated water stations of their own.
There were also photo ops, giveaways and even a custom basketball-hoop setup — presumably for any attendee feeling inspired to test whether Buddy’s skills were actually that unusual.
The screenings also gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Air Bud Returns, the new movie bringing Buddy back to theaters on January 22, 2027.
And the new movie already has its Buddy — or, technically, its Buddies.
In a separate nationwide casting search launched ahead of the film, more than 5,000 dogs were submitted for consideration. The field was eventually narrowed down to two golden retrievers: Charlie, from Ohio, and Summer, from California, who will share Buddy duties in the new movie.
Which means thousands of dogs can now technically say they were once in the running for a Hollywood role.
Air Bud Returns follows a boy named Jacob who discovers an old Air Bud VHS among his late father’s belongings before meeting a stray golden retriever with a suspicious amount of basketball talent.
But for a few nights in August, the plot almost didn’t matter.
The important part was that dogs got to go to the movies.
And frankly, Air Bud may be one of the few films where bringing your own golden retriever feels less like breaking theater etiquette and more like understanding the assignment.
Sources: PR Newswire, PEOPLE and event video.
